CHENNAI: Even as the preliminary autopsy of all four bodies suggested traces of poison in the gut, police sent the viscera of all the four members of the same family to the forensic laboratory to probe the poison.
The four members of the family from Kondithope died of suspected food poisoning. Beginning early on Monday, Nandakumar (58), his wife Kalaivani (52), their son Purushothaman alias Vinod (30) and their relative Lalitha (65), died within six hours. Except Lalitha, the three were admitted to a hospital where they died. Lalitha died on the first floor of the rented residence on Venku Street, Seven Wells.
Preliminary probe showed that the family members except Sundaramoorthy, brother of Nandakumar, and Sivakami (67), mother-in-law of Nandakumar, all fell sick after their dinner (‘idly’, ‘dosa’ and ‘rasam sadam’) on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.
During the autopsy doctors reportedly told the police that they had found solidified traces of poison in layers formed in the inner layer of gut.
Asked whether the family consumed food laced with poison, a senior police official said they were yet to find out whether the food itself turned poisonous or not.
“We had handed over the bodies and the stress is high on the kin taking up the last rites. We are awaiting the results on the viscera which we expect by Wednesday. We would be able to proceed further accordingly,” said another police official.